Family had to finally come first for McNulty

Mike Simmonds

Hatters captain Steve McNulty admitted he hadn’t wanted to leave the club this week, but had no option but to put his family first.

The 32-year-old, who made 125 appearances for the club, decided to joined National League side Tranmere on loan with a view to a permanent deal to be closer to his partner and their two children.

“It’s a really tough decision, one I haven’t taken lightly and think in the long run it’s the right time to go home.”

Steve McNulty

Speaking to the News/Gazette, he said: “It’s the hardest decision of my football career, it’s been really tough.

“On a selfish point of view, I would have liked to have stayed and wanted to stay, but I have to look at the bigger picture.

“It’s a really tough decision, one I haven’t taken lightly and think in the long run it’s the right time to go home.

“A few things have happened with the kids back home. Don’t get me wrong, the missus is more than capable of having them, but I’m stuck down here on the other end of the phone.

“The girls are growing up and it’s just time I get home and take a bit of pressure off her and start being a dad again.

“I’m missing them doing things, missing them growing up, so it was a tough decision but one in the long run I’ll look back and think had to be done.”

On just how difficult it has been living away from home, McNulty continued: “You try and chase time and catch time. You get home sometimes at the weekend or maybe through the week, but the travelling is not ideal.

“Looking back, if I had have known we were going to be so successful at Luton and things were going to go so well, maybe I would have moved them down when I first signed.

“But I signed a short term deal and we can’t predict the future, so I just had to get on with what we were doing and make the best of the situation.”

McNulty was also quick to praise the club and manager John Still for making the move back so easy for him.

He said: “The club have been great about it, the gaffer himself, John Still, has been great too.

“He’s a family man himself, he said you only get one family, and it’s time that you’ll never get back with them.

“He didn’t want me to go, but never once tried to talk me out of it or change my mind.

“He was fully supportive and said if it was the thing I thought was right to do, he’d fully back me and do his best to make it happen.